‘Not the deal promised’: Labor’s Ed Husic questions Aukus pact that will deliver secondhand subs

A prominent Labor MP has issued the most significant internal criticism to date of Australia's AUKUS submarine deal, warning that the multi-billion-dollar pact is at risk. Ed Husic, a former frontbencher, expressed concerns that sluggish American production schedules and the "transactional nature" of the previous U.S. administration have jeopardized the agreement.

Husic argued that Australia needs a contingency plan for the AUKUS pact, which involves acquiring nuclear-powered submarines from the United States and the United Kingdom. His comments, made since the ALP national conference in 2023, signal a potential internal debate within the ruling party regarding the security and viability of the defense arrangement.

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Australia needs a backup plan for the Aukus submarine agreement

The $368 billion deal, intended to bolster Australia's defense capabilities in the Indo-Pacific, has faced scrutiny over its cost and timeline. Husic's critique highlights potential vulnerabilities in the supply chain and diplomatic relationships underpinning the pact, suggesting that relying solely on the current plan could be a strategic misstep for the nation.

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sluggish American production and the “transactional nature” of the Trump administration have put the multi-billion-dollar defence deal at risk